From there, they lead the horses back to the temple stables and ensure they are cared for. Kara says, “We need an armorer for Aran.” Aran says, “There’s no armor on the list.” Kara grabs a hold of his leather armor and clamps down, causing it to crack, “That armor has been in storage for years, I completely forgot about it. It’s old and isn’t much better than wearing nothing. You need some better armor.” Ava says, “What about me?” Kara looks at herself, “Have you ever seen me wear armor?” Ava thinks for a few seconds, “No, but I thought you had some sort of magical armor, like Mage Armor or something we can’t see.” Kara explains, “Some of my defenses are magic, but I wear no physical armor. My armor is my faith in the Dawn Bringer. It would be best to learn to put your faith in her.
Release your body to the goddess; she will move you where it is safest.” Ava replies, “Come to think about it, I’ve seen you move in training; sometimes, you would never see the strike coming, and suddenly, you’re not where it would have hit anymore. When do you teach me that?” Kara replies, “I don’t. You must earn it, and doing so is painful, but trust in the Dawn Bringer, and one day, you will feel your body moving on its own when you’re in danger without thinking about it.”
Kara looks down the street, “There’s somewhere I need to go before we go to the market.” Persi replies, “Lead the way.” She looks at her three companions, “You don’t have to. I’m not even sure I’ll be welcomed.” Aran shrugs, “Then I guess we'll find out together. If you’re not welcome, then we leave together.”
Kara leads the way, heading down a rough street. She looks around. It looks rougher than before. Beggers sitting in the gutters, thugs in the alleys and rooftops, “If anything happens, stay close.” Then she sees it: Mave’s Home for Much Wanted Children. Kara coughs, trying to hold back tears as she remembers all her time playing with the children. She says, “Mave’s”.
She walks up to the door with her companions standing a few paces behind and knocks. She hears footsteps approaching. The door opens. A woman with a pale, white, featureless face and almost transparent hair opens the door and looks at Kara. Her face changes to match Kara’s. Without thinking, she lunges at the changeling and hugs her. Nothing can stop these tears as she buries her face in Mave’s shoulder. The changeling returns the hug out of instinct, looking at Aran, Ava, and Persival. She pushes Kara back by the shoulders, “Were you one of mine,,,” Mave inhales deeply as recognition hits her, “By the gods above. Kara?” Mave pulls her back into the hug, tears falling from her face, too.
Kara turns to everyone with tears streaming down her cheeks. Aran, Ava, Persi, this is Mave. Mave, these are my friends. She points to each as she introduces them. Mave lets Kara go and walks out to greet them. As she does, her face changes to match them. Aran stares at her until Ava kicks him in the calf, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Mave says, “It’s ok; I’m used to it. I apologize. I can’t control my shifting. It just happens. Where are my manors? Come in.”
Everyone enters the house. The inside of the house is warm and welcoming. Several children are running around, playing. They stop playing and line up to face them. Everyone first sees a painting of Kara, standing next to a man wearing mix-match armor and holding a blade with vines wrapped around it. Aran asks, “Who’s the dude?” Kara smiles as she thinks back, “Whelp. If not for him, I wouldn’t be here. He was a member of the White Claws. We, we ended up on a quest that took us across this continent several times and north into the frozen regions. He stood at my side when I threw myself against Tiamat.” She wipes the tears from her eyes and turns to Mave.
“Mave. I need to talk to Cubbie.” Mave goes blank, completely featureless, as panic takes her. She begins to breathe shallowly. Kara places a hand on her back and channels healing and calm into her, “Breathe. What’s wrong?” Mave places a hand on her chest, looking at Kara with sorrow and fear. Again, Kara says, “Mave, where is Cubbie?” Mave swallows, “She left three days ago. The day the comet passed over. The girl was moving as if possessed. She had to follow its trail. She was going to leave alone, but I was able to slow her down enough to get Lady Quinshara from the temple to accompany her. They packed and left when the trail still floated in the sky.”
Ava asks Kara, “You mean Cubbie, the Cubbie. Alhindri’s daughter? She was here?” Kara nods to Ava but focuses back on Mave, “Which way, Mave? Which route did they take?” Mave shakes her head, “I don’t know. Quinshara mentioned the giant’s rebellion to the south and said the northern route was safest. I’m so sorry I didn’t try harder to stop her.” Kara hugs her, “It’s not your fault. You said Quinshara? Tell me about her.” Mave’s face changes to that of a woman with scars around her eyes, and the bottom half of her face remains featureless. “She is a kalashtar. She keeps the lower part of her face covered due to the scars. She is a priestess of The Dawn Bringer. She comes by here nearly every day to check on us. Kara, Quin is kind. She will take care of Cubbie.”
Kara hugs Mave again: “Thank you, Mave. Thank you for being you. There is no way you could have stopped her. I should have contacted you and told you what was happening. It all happened so fast. Ith and Alhi decided not to tell her because she would have gone through Hell itself to get home so she could fight at her parents' side. There is nothing you could have done to stop her. Hopefully, we can catch up to her.” Mave appears worried.
Kara looks around at the children and her friends. “All of you, quit standing and staring. Why don’t you kids show my friends around? Persi, see if the kids need or want anything. Aran, check their furniture. Ava, see if they need any clothing or toys.” She smiles. Mave starts to object, but Kara looks at her with an expression that conveys, “They need busy work.” Mave smiles, “Show them around my children.” A young girl walks over next to Kara. She points at the painting, “Are you really her?” Kara nods. The girl says, “I want to be a hero, too.” Kara places a hand on her head, “Study hard, play with your friends, be good, and one day you might, but it’s not something you seek. It seeks you if you’re worthy.” The girl bounces with excitement and runs off.
Kara sits and pulls Mave onto the sofa next to her, “Let’s talk, just us. I’ll start by telling you that I’m sorry I didn’t contact you to let you know, but this world needed me dead. I needed this world to think I was dead. I’m sorry. In proxy, I sent you money through Ith and Alhi every time they visited.” Kara tells her about the past fifteen years and her children, Sasha. Lots of stuff about Sasha. She tells about her friends, what she has seen, and where she has been. She brags about the orphanage on Nexus and how much Mave influenced not only her but Alhi and Ith.
Mave talks about all the children who were here fifteen years ago and how much all the resources Kara, Whelp, and Ith provided helped them. She thinks many children went to work for Whelp when they aged out of the orphanage. Most of them went on to successful lives. Many have families around the Empire in various cities. Many offer support to the home in various ways. She talks about everything that has happened and how she looks forward to Ith’s visits. How much of a help Cubbie has been. Then it occurs to her, “Those pizzas from the market Ith would always go get. Those were for you, weren’t they?” Kara blushes.
Several hours pass when Ava returns, “Everything they have is in great shape, but I’ve got a list.” She looks at Mave, then back to Kara, “Shouldn’t we hurry if we’re going to catch Cubbie?” Kara asks Ava to sit next to her, and she does, “Cubbie is as independent as they come. She is several days ahead of us. We will if The Dawn Bringer wants us to catch up with her. She is also probably the strongest fourteen-year-old druid I know. Ith, Alhi, Khive, and Sasha have taught her well. She is a survivor. If I know her, she is halfway to Nexus by now.” Ava looks at Kara unsurely. Kara quickly says, “They made it. Nexus is waiting for us, wherever it is. They are there. I would know if,,, if.” Ava wipes the tears from Kara’s cheeks. They sit and talk for another hour or so. Aran rides the children around on his shoulders, pretending to be a horse, while Persi tells them stories while dazzling them with cantrips.
Kara says goodbye to Mave, handing her a pouch filled with gems, “Just in case.” Mave tries to hand it back, but Kara says, “You’ve forgotten how stubborn I can be.” Mave holds the pouch close, saying, “Thank you all.” Kara hugs her one last time, “I’ll return someday, I promise. I’ll have my family with me because I want them to meet you.” Kara laughs, “I’ll drag Cubbie with me, too, so she can finish her internship with you.” Mave smiles, wondering if she’ll ever see Kara again, “I can’t wait to meet your family. Tell Cubbie that her bed here will always be ready.”
The group leaves Mave’s and heads for the market. She is worried about Cubbie. Persi says, “Cubbie has been trained by her parents, Khive, Camiella, you, and everyone else at Nexus. If overtraining were a problem, then I would be worried.” Kara softly says, “Thank you.” Aran says, “Well, I don’t know her. Beyond that, she’s the rich girl everyone doats over, but from what I could see, she’s been taught by the best. I mean, every time I saw her, she was with Khive. Lately, she has always been at Sasha’s side. Didn’t Mave say she has some Priestess of The Dawn Bringer with her? When I put my tracking skills to work, we’ll catch up to her and find her in no time.” Kara stops walking and looks at everyone, “Thank all of you.”
They walk into Ore Galore Armorer, where a female halfling greets them. “Hello, what might you be looking for today?” Kara points at Aran, “Armor, for my friend; you can see what he’s wearing is crap.” The halfling asks, “Will that be enchanted armor for him or normal? There’s a considerable price difference, and I don’t like wasting time.” Kara looks at Aran, and he shrugs. As he opens his mouth, Persi says, “Magic, he needs enchanted armor.” The halfling walks over to Aran, puts her hand on her chin, and starts looking at him from different angles. Then she grabs him by the belt and drags him to some mirrors, takes a measuring tape, and starts climbing up and down on a stool, measuring his arms, chest, and waist and writing everything down.
Kara hands Persi the portable hole and tells him, “Not full plate. Keep the riding horse in mind. Ava and I are going to find her some clothes. I also smell a bakery. When we’ve finished, we’ll meet there or in Counterspell’s Magic Emporium, a magic shop near here; you may find some supplies we need there. I have some coin in there; you probably saw it, but it’s not unlimited. Don’t go nuts. It has to get us home.” Persi says, “Trust me.” She looks at him, turns to walk away, then looks at him again, “Follow me, Ava.” When Kara is well away, Persi says, “Let’s armor this man up.” The halfling says, “I have two pieces that will fit him today; anything else will take two weeks. I have a breastplate and some splint. Which do you want to see first?
The halfling says, “By the way, my name is Jan.” Persi says, “You can call me Persi.” Aran says, “You can call me Aran.” Jan smiles at them, “Persi, Aran, which will it be? The splint is an exceptional type of armor; if you happen to die, gods forbid, it will explode, causing great harm to the enemies around you, especially if they are undead or from other planes. The breastplate has a simple magical enchantment, offering more protection and making it tougher than normal metals.” Persi says, “Let’s look at the breastplate.” Jan hops down from the stool and runs off into a back room. She returns a few minutes later, lugging a breastplate over her head. She climbs back up and starts helping Aran strap it on. When she is satisfied all the buckles are tight, she spins him around, hops down, and starts looking at him again from different angles, makes him turn, and continues to look. She asks Persi, “Well, what do you think? I think he looks like a real warrior and a lady killer.”
Aran blushes. Jan whistles at him, and Aran smiles. Persi rolls his eyes and thinks, “It’s a good thing Aran isn’t negotiating the price.” Persi says, “500 gold?” Jan throws her hand over her heart and says, “I’m wounded, no seriously, that hurt. Try closer to 1500 gold. The other set that fits him is 15,000 gold.” Persi gives her a look like she just hurt his feelings, “Come on, Jan, we’re travelers on a sacred quest to save the universe. This is his first set of armor. He’s an armor virgin.” Aran says, “Hey.” She puts her hands on her hips, walks around him, looking him up and down, “900 gold, that’s my final offer, and you tell everyone who asks where you got it from, just not the price you got it for.” Persi says, “Deal,” as he pulls out the portable hole, “Just let me dig out the money.” He unfolds the portable hole, then Aran hops down into it; he tells Aran, “Look in the bronze chest; there are small, empty leather sacks lying around; use one of them and count it out.” Looking around, he is amazed at some of the stuff. He finds the chest, counts the proper amount in platinum, places them in a leather pouch, and climbs out. Then offers it to Jan, who promptly empties the contents on the counter and recounts it, “Well, gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you. If you need anything else, I’m at your service.”
After leaving Ore Galore, Kara and Ava walk a little, looking at the sights. Most people give them a wide path; it’s not often two shorter-than-average women walk through carrying massive weapons that look like they were made for giants. Kara stops Ava and tells her, “No one was ever around to teach me how to be a paladin or even serve The Dawn Bringer, so I will do everything I can to help you. Clear?” Ava nods as Kara continues, “One of your abilities is to sense the presence of undead, fiends, even celestials, close your eyes, and open your spirit to your surroundings.” Ava does as instructed, “I doubt there is anything.” Ava says, “I sense a fiend and a celestial; both of them are coming from you?” Kara says, “Wow, I don’t sense myself. I never realized. But I understand. I was merged with a devil, and I’m part Valkyrie.” Ava says, “I sense an undead also, walking around the outer edge of my senses.” Kara says, “Let me see.” She begins to focus and instantly senses it; she looks in the same direction as Ava, and they move through the crowd, slowly searching for the undead. Suddenly, Kara drops Misery and bolts in the direction of a nightsylvan. Ava catches Misery in her free hand; when she looks back up, Kara has the nightsylvan in a hug, and her face is buried on his shoulder. The nightsylvan stumbles back a few steps, and Kara holds on to him like he is someone she knows and cares about. Ava runs over, and the nightsylvan looks at Ava, “Well, you’re new. Kara, Kara, I think I feel bones starting to crack.” She releases the nightsylvan. Then, she grabs him a second time, and the nightsylvan gives a mock grunt of pain. Then she releases him.
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Ava says, “Nightsylvan, you apparently know very well, and he’s not trying to kill you; you’re not “trying” to kill him, except with ungodly strong hugs. This must be Valas.” Valas says, “At your service.” With a slight flourish, Ava says, “I’m Ava, Kara’s apprentice, squire. I’m not sure.” Kara still hasn’t said anything. This is the first time Ava has ever seen her at a loss for words. Finally, she asks, “How?” Valas says barely above a whisper, “The Night Queen was asked a strange question yesterday. Nothing that said you were here, but strange enough that she asked me to investigate. Physax teleported here, but I ended up outside, not in the teleportation circle, and I worked my way in this morning. The teleport felt different. It took longer.” He looks around and sees people looking in their direction, “Let’s go someplace a little more private. Given the current political situation, a nightsylvan standing out in the open may attract unwanted attention. Especially if he’s seen talking to two, not nightsylvan pretty girls.” Ava and Kara look around, and several people are looking at them. A tavern is nearby, and they all duck into it and quickly find a private table in the corner.
He asks, “How are you back? Why? I last saw you in the Night Queen’s private chamber twelve years ago. After you used your Wish from Raveneth, you talked Cyndra’s father into lifting the curse because you found out you were having a child. Speaking of that, how did that turn out?” Kara spends the next 30 minutes briefly recounting the past 13 years, laughing and telling stories about her children. Then, she goes over the events of the last few days in detail. Valas says, “I am truly sorry about your friend; I’m sure you’ll find Nexus. But three? With another on the way?” He looks at Ava, “You must understand, she hardly ever showed emotion when she was with us. Nothing fazed her; once, a bard tried to charm her once, and she sent him away crying. Something about his “squirrel dick” She never expressed any interest in any relationship with anyone beyond being friends.” Seeing Kara around Nexus with her friends and family, Ava finds this hard to believe, but after reading the journal, she understands.
Kara asks, “What about the others?” Valas looks down. Some are good, and some are probably not what you want to hear. Kara says, “Not what I want to hear first.”
Valas replies, “Malachi heard about some ancient red dragon and took off after it. He hasn’t been seen since. That was ten years ago. We have intercepted stories here and there about adventurers searching for dragons, only to find the dragon dead and their hoards looted.” Ava says, “That is a good thing, right?” He shakes his head, “It’s not just the children of Tiamat that have turned up dead. The children of Bahamut, too. If it’s Malachi, and I suspect it is. He is hunting dragons indiscriminately.”
“A war broke out among some Pirate Lords around the Shae Skya coast. Whelp heard about orphans being taken as slaves. As far as I know, he is still there fighting and being a general terror to both sides, a pain in the ass to the ruling factions. As I understand, there is a good chance that he may accidentally find himself ruling an island nation. Wouldn’t that be a bitch.”
“Donjo, well, he traveled to who knows where. He’s always looking into some mystery. That’s who he is. It’s the work he loves. The last I heard, he was looking into what causes the wild surges in the north. That may be where he is.”
“Thomas, well, he owns two major clothiers, one in Shadowbel, making the finest nightsylvan fashions, and the other in Stormspire, where he travels back and forth. Oh, he finally got that title. In AeZuan, he is a “Lord” in Stormspire.” Valas tries to make a snobby face, and about half succeeds.
“I work for the Night Queen, being her eyes wherever she needs to see. The Dynasty and The Empire are close to war again. I’m doing what I can to keep it from happening. This time, I think it’s our fault, meaning us and them, not some devil working in secret, although that didn’t help. You’ll be happy to know that what you did fifteen years ago almost got a peace treaty signed, almost. The hatred between our nations goes back too far.”
Ava sits and listens, trying to absorb it all, wondering if worlds will someday revolve around her like they seem to revolve around the two people sitting at the table with her.
Valas looks at Ava, “You, young lady, helped save possibly the purest soul I’ve ever known. Thank you. So, Paladin of The Dawn Bringer in training? No one ever trained her. She learned the hard way.” Ava says, “So I’ve heard.” Valas continues, “Then listen and watch; she will keep you alive. Most of all, protect her. She makes really dumb decisions if she thinks someone is being hurt.”
Kara gives Valas a little shove, maybe a little harder than she intended, and says, “I’ve grown. I think things through now, but if it involves my family, yeah, my brain goes stupid.” Kara asks, “You wouldn’t happen to have a way to teleport to AeZuan, would you?” Valas makes an apologetic face, “Sorry, not from here. If we were in Shadowbel, then maybe. As it stands, The Dynasty has so many magical wards up now that I’ve got to take the hard way back and huff it. Getting out of Shadowbel is easy; getting in is not so easy. I need to speak with Physax about that teleport he used on me.” Valas looks around, “Well, it looks like I’ve worn out my welcome. The Crownsguard are searching the area.”
Outside, people are pointing here and there as guards look around; someone points at the tavern, and four guards start walking toward it. Valas says, “When you find Nexus, let me know.” He hands Kara a stone with runes on it. “Or if you just have anything to say.” The guards step around the corner to the table they are sitting at and have a confused look on their faces. One says, “I heard a male’s voice. Where is he?” Kara’s eyes glow as she looks up at the guards. As Ava looks at her, her voice seems to change slightly, as if she is speaking with the voice of an angel. “No one here but us girls. We were making fun of some guys that hit on us earlier. One was rather perverted; some big strong guards should go find and punish them.” The guards look at each other; one says, “Fan out in the streets, find those perverts.” They run out of the tavern. Kara says, “You’ll be able to do that too one day. Just make sure you use it for good.”
Ava and Kara rush to Counterspell’s as fast as they can. They meet Aran and Persi as they are approaching the shop. Aran is wearing a fancy new breastplate. Ava says, “Nice.” Kara gives him a wolf whistle as he turns a bright shade of red. The last time she was in Everwind, she didn’t come here. She had nothing then and didn’t feel she was worthy of anything. Her brothers came here and purchased an item or two. Inside is an elf with brown hair and a kind face; he stands up when they enter and introduces himself. “Welcome, my friends. I’m Yelris, and I’ll be your host today; what would be your names?” He has a fascinating accent; Kara remembers seeing him in Shadowbel, and she asks, “Are you the same Yelris I met in Shadowbel years ago.” He looks at her, “Well, I’ll be Karael Proudshard. I never thought I would see you again. Yes, that was at least one of me.” Kara remembers that a few of him were in the same shop in Shadowbel. It was somewhat confusing then. Kara says, “Long story Yelris, we’re prepping for a trip and need to see what you have that can be useful.”.
Yelris says, “Well, look around. I have a lot that can be useful. Don’t pull the cork on that flask, young lady; it will get very wet in here, very fast.” Ava sets the flask back down. Kara turns to Persi, “What do you think we need?” Persi says, “I was thinking at least another Bag of Holding or a Handy Haversack. Do you have either one of those items?” Yelris yells, “Hey, Yelris,” another Yelris pops his head up, “Yes, Yelris?” “Do we have any Bags of Holding or Handy Haversacks back there?” “Yes, Yelris, I think we do, at least one of each. I’ll bring them out.” Then the other Yelris yells, “Hey Yelris.” Then, from further back, they hear another “Yes, Yelris.” “A Bag of Holding and a Handy Haversack, please.” “Okay, Yelris.” Aran, Ava, and Persi look thoroughly confused. Kara looks at them, “You come from a castle floating in the stars, and this confuses you?”
They all look at each other, then at Kara, and shrug as Yelris brings out the two items and sets them on the counter. The Yelrises combine into a single Yelris. Kara asks, “How much?” Yelris rubs his chin, “Well, normally, these two items would be 8500 gold,” Aran coughs, “But for Karael Proudshard,” Kara says. “Karael Proudshard Cinderblade,” Yelris’s eyebrows go up. “I’ll do it for 5000 gold and the story about where you’ve been all these years, and I’ll knock off another 500 if you tell me about the Cinderblade part.” Kara says, “Deal, and you may owe me some gold.” She hands over the gold and looks at what they have left. It’s starting to run low, but it will do. She gives the items to Aran and Persi, “Go buy whatever other mundane stuff you think we’ll need. Ava and I will meet you at the temple tonight. I want to leave in the morning after breakfast.” They take the items out to finish the shopping while several Yelrises come out and combine into a single Yelris, “Now that we are all here.” Yelris pulls up a few chairs for Kara and Ava, making himself comfortable. She recounts everything for him. Ava sits on the floor and listens to every word. Three hours later, Yelris thanks them, and they head back to the temple. Ava and Kara stomachs are rumbling.
On the way back, Ava asks, “What stone did Valas give you?” Kara says, “It is a Sending Stone. I can speak up to 25 words into it three times per day. The person with the sister stone will hear those words and can reply. I had one connected to another stone in Nexus, but I left it in the bedroom the morning the barrier collapsed.” Ava says, “It would have been nice to have that.” Kara says, “Adventures usually don’t come easy. We’ll get there.” Kara stops and smells the air with an expression of euphoria, “Smell that?” Ava sniffs. If heaven had a smell, she imagines it would smell like that. Kara says, “The can boys eat temple food. I’m going to introduce you to something called Pizza.”
Ava and Kara don’t return until well after dark. They manage to sneak in through the temple's rear entrance, not to bother anyone or be bothered. Both go straight to bed and are out instantly.
Kara dreams, “She is lying on the bed. Sasha is beside her, softly running her fingers over her body, tickling the fine hairs on her stomach. Anticipation of her kiss rising. Kara reaches up to Sasha’s face to pull her close; Sasha says, “Slow down; the best things come to those with patience.” Sasha leans over. She can feel her breath on her skin. She feels her lips slowly brush over hers as she nears her ears. Sasha whispers, “Tell Alhindra how you lost her daughter.” Her eyes snap open with a gasp.
Ava mumbles, “Bad dream?’ Kara stares at the ceiling, snuffling. Ava shifts beside her, holding her, “Whatever it was, it was just a dream.” Kara nuzzles closer, “I’m supposed to be comforting you, Aran, and Persi. When did you become such a grownup?” Ava holds her tight, “I had a good role model. Do you want to talk about it?” Kara shakes her head. She lays there and stares at the ceiling until she hears Ava’s breathing change to a steady sleep rhythm, and then she doses back off.
Purely by accident, a worried Persi pacing the temple halls walks by and notices the door to the room closed and peaks in. They finally relax and settle in for the night when he tells Aran. After learning the Crownsguard was searching for a small gang of perverts who had been assaulting people, they were worried. They knew the two could take care of themselves, but still. Persi is looking forward to the road and a change of pace. Something different than being cooped up inside four walls all day, as he has spent the last several years.
The next morning, Kara finds Ava already awake before dawn and ready to go out to the steps. This morning, Kara lets Ava lead the tenants, and then she and the rest of the temple join in. It’s as great on the second morning as it was the first. Again, Aran and Persi join them at breakfast. Kara updates them on meeting Valas and asks Persi to take the portable hole and account for what they have for funds and supplies.
Kara says, “I have no clue as to what we have. I’ve never paid any attention to money or anything else. Everything I have has been given to me. In the past, I’ve always given away anything I found. I never accumulated anything until I came to Nexus; even then, others put what is in there. I only care about the display case and what’s in it. Please don’t open it.” Aran says, “I saw that. Are they trophies or something?” Kara thinks while the others look at her, “I.. they’re… It’s hard…. They are memories.” Ava interrupts Kara, “Let’s make our travel plan. What’s our goal for the night?” Kara smiles at her, happy she changed the subject, “With what Mave said about the giants to the south and the high possibility that Cubbie is traveling north. I think that is our best route. We should make Sheelin Keep by nightfall. After that, it’s an open road to Partways, probably about a week. After that comes Cragcall…” Her voice fades as she says Cragcall, remembering what is in Cragcall…
Noric approaches, “I have news; I would have told you yesterday but didn’t get a chance. One of the priests we contacted was in a town called Roguehaven, across the sea. He reported a great comet to the north and low. So, I think our first guess was correct. I also overheard some of your conversations. The giants to the south are in rebellion. There’s lots of fighting going on, and the giants don’t tend to care if you’re wearing an Imperial uniform or not. If you go that way, it will be rough and dangerous. I’d recommend waiting for a caravan. Maybe a month or so. That is why I suggested Port Summereach. It will be longer but possibly safer, given your condition.” Kara glares at him; he holds up his hands and steps back, “I’m not saying it makes you helpless; I'm just saying that route may be safer for your less experienced companions.”
Kara looks at him, “Quinshara. Tell me about her.” Nordic takes a step back, looking at her with a little confusion. Kara says, “Everything. Why did she become a priestess of The Dawn Bringer?”
Noric thinks briefly, “She was mixed up in a bad organization. A very bad organization. She came here looking for a mark. She was an assassin for them. Let’s say that my predecessor made an impression on her. Quinshara asked for redemption and stayed. Everything was good until that organization found her. High Priestess Nirne died defending Qunishara. Quin was hurt, bad. She would not let us heal her. She said she would keep the scars as a reminder of the love and dedication to the oath that Nirne showed while trying to defend her. Since then, she became a model priestess.” He smiles, “She took an interest in stories about you. It’s a shame she’s not here. She left a few days ago on an urgent matter. Why do you ask?” Kara shrugs, “It’s a name I heard. I was just curious.”
Kara sighs and looks at her companions, “You choose; I know you won’t let me fight unless I have no choice. I don’t always make the best decisions, especially when rushing in to protect anyone. Right now, I want to rush home as fast as possible.” They look at each other, then at Noric. He lifts an eyebrow, and Aran says, “Northern route to Port Summereach.” Ava and Persi nod their heads. Kara hugs Noric, “Thank you for everything Noric. I’ll find a way to contact you when we get home.” Noric says, “I’ll contact you. I’ve kept the fact that you’re here a secret, except to Vi.” Kara tells Noric of her visit with Valas yesterday; all Noric says is, “She didn’t become the Night Queen by not knowing everything going on around her. Be safe, Kara; same to you, Aran, Ava, and Persi. The acolytes should have the wagon already out front.”
As promised, the wagon is ready in front of the temple. The horses are hooked up, and the riding horse is saddled and tied to a tether at the wagon's rear. It looks like the temple has loaded some supplies in the wagon. Aran and Persi take the reins, Ava sits between them, and Kara climbs in the back. The priests and acolytes watch them leave.
When they reach the front gate, Ava asks Aran to stop, and she jumps down and runs to the barracks. Ava speaks to a guard, who in turn asks a question to another guard. The second goes inside the barracks. Ava looks back at the wagon and waves at her companions. Kara moves up to the front of the wagon and asks, “What’s going on?” Both Aran and Persi shrug. After about a minute, the stumpy, one-eyed man who let them in the other night comes out with a confused look. He seems to recognize Ava as she talks to him and points at the wagon. Ava motions for him to follow, but he shakes his head. Ava tries again, and once again, he shakes his head. Ava grabs him by the shoulders and marches him to the wagon, “Everyone, this is Josel. Josel, this is Aran, Kara, and Persi. Thanks to you, Kara is alive, and we didn’t know it then, but you saved her baby’s life too.” Josel quietly says, “Don’t say tha…., Baby, I saved a baby?” He seems to grow a little as pride sweeps across his face.
Kara gets off the wagon, walks over to Josel, and then hugs him, “Thank you, Josel. May The Dawn Bringer forever bless you.” Kara activates a spellwought tattoo on her leg at the same time. Incredibly powerful regenerative energy pours from her into Josel. He starts to rub at his missing eye, and a few bones in his back and right leg begin to make popping sounds as they straighten. As she hugs him, Kara recites the tenants of The Dawn Bringer, then tells Josel, “Always look for the best in people, Josel. I will always remember you.” The other Crownsguards are coming out now to look at him. Before their eyes, Josel straightens up into a six-foot-tall man. When he removes his hand from his eye, the missing eye is now there. Josel stands there stunned. Kara releases him, lays a hand on Ava’s shoulder, and they jump back into the wagon. Kara tells Aran, “Go, if we wait too long, a crowd will show up wanting miracles, and that was a one-time thing.” Aran snaps the reins, and the wagon moves on through the gates as Josel stands there looking at himself, with other guards crowding around him.
Persi looks at Kara, “Activating that tattoo for yourself when we slammed into the forest…” Kara shrugs, “I wasn’t exactly conscious when that happened.” She looks back at Josel, “Plus, things worked out OK.”